Legal claims defining the scope of protection. Each claim is shown in both the original legal language and a plain English translation.
1. A printing control apparatus that connects to a terminal and a printer, comprising: a communicator configured to receive from the terminal a specified-printer job, which is a print job for which the printer is designated as a print destination; and a controller configured to process the print job; the controller determining whether or not the specified-printer job is confidential, and if the specified-printer job is not confidential, sending print data based on the specified-printer job to a specified printer, which is the printer designated as the print destination in the specified-printer job, and if the specified-printer job is confidential, receiving authentication information input to the printer from the printer and executing an authentication process based on the authentication information, and sending the print data to an authenticated printer, which is the printer that sent the authentication information, according to a result of the authentication process, wherein: the controller determines whether or not the specified-printer job is a same-printer job designating the same printer as the authenticated printer as the print destination, if the specified-printer job is not a same-printer job, displays the specified-printer job as a printing candidate on the authenticated printer, and if the displayed specified-printer job is selected for printing, sends the print data based on the specified-printer job to the authenticated printer, and if the specified-printer job is a same-printer job, sends the print data based on the same-printer job to the authenticated printer without displaying the specified-printer job as a printing candidate on the authenticated printer.
This invention relates to a printing control apparatus that manages print jobs between a terminal and a printer, addressing security concerns in print environments. The apparatus receives a print job from a terminal where a specific printer is designated as the print destination. It processes the job by first determining whether the print job is confidential. If the job is not confidential, the print data is sent directly to the designated printer. For confidential jobs, the apparatus requires authentication. The printer prompts for authentication information, which the apparatus uses to verify the user. If authentication succeeds, the print data is sent to the authenticated printer. The apparatus also checks if the print job designates the same printer as the authenticated printer. If not, the job is displayed as a printing candidate on the authenticated printer, allowing the user to select it for printing. If the job is for the same printer, the print data is sent automatically without requiring user selection. This system enhances security by ensuring confidential documents are only printed after proper authentication and provides flexibility in handling non-confidential jobs.
2. The printing control apparatus described in claim 1 , wherein: the controller determines the specified-printer job is confidential when a specific string is included in a document of the specified-printer job, and determines the specified-printer job is not confidential when the specific string is not included in a document of the specified-printer job.
This invention relates to a printing control apparatus designed to manage confidential documents in a printing system. The apparatus addresses the problem of unauthorized access to sensitive printed materials by automatically detecting and handling confidential print jobs based on document content. The apparatus includes a controller that analyzes print jobs before they are sent to a specified printer. The controller checks for the presence of a predefined string within the document of the print job. If the specific string is found, the controller classifies the print job as confidential. If the string is absent, the print job is classified as non-confidential. This classification allows the system to apply different handling rules, such as secure printing protocols, for confidential documents while processing non-confidential documents normally. The invention ensures that sensitive information is protected by automatically identifying confidential documents based on content rather than relying on user input or manual classification. This reduces the risk of accidental disclosure and enhances document security in printing environments. The system can be integrated into existing printing infrastructure to provide an additional layer of security for printed materials.
3. The printing control apparatus described in claim 1 , wherein: the controller, when the specified-printer job is confidential, displays on the terminal that sent the specified-printer job a printing process selection screen enabling selecting from among multiple selection candidates a first selection candidate causing printing the specified-printer job on the specified printer, and a second selection candidate causing printing the specified-printer job on the authenticated printer, sending the print data based on the specified-printer job to the specified printer when the first selection candidate is selected from the printing process selection screen, and sending the print data based on the specified-printer job to the authenticated printer when the second selection candidate is selected from the printing process selection screen.
This invention relates to a printing control apparatus designed to enhance security for confidential print jobs in networked printing environments. The problem addressed is the risk of unauthorized access to sensitive documents when printing to a specified printer, particularly in shared or public printing scenarios. The apparatus includes a controller that manages print jobs sent from a terminal to a specified printer. When a print job is marked as confidential, the controller displays a printing process selection screen on the terminal. This screen presents multiple options for handling the print job. The first option allows printing directly to the specified printer, while the second option redirects the print job to an authenticated printer, which requires user authentication before releasing the document. The controller processes the print job according to the user's selection, either sending the print data to the specified printer or the authenticated printer. This system ensures that confidential documents are only printed after proper authentication, reducing the risk of unauthorized access. The selection screen provides flexibility, allowing users to choose between convenience and enhanced security based on their needs. The apparatus is particularly useful in environments where printers are shared among multiple users, such as offices or public spaces.
4. The printing control apparatus described in claim 3 , wherein: the controller, when the first selection candidate is selected from the printing process selection screen, queries the specified printer for status information, and if the status information indicates a logged-in state, does not send the print data based on the specified-printer job to the specified printer.
This invention relates to a printing control apparatus designed to manage print jobs in a networked printing environment. The problem addressed is ensuring efficient and secure print job handling, particularly when a printer is in a logged-in state, which may indicate an active user session or restricted access. The apparatus includes a controller that interacts with a printing process selection screen, allowing a user to choose between different printing options. When a first selection candidate (e.g., a specific print job or printer) is selected, the controller queries the specified printer for its current status information. This status information includes details about the printer's operational state, such as whether it is logged in or available for printing. If the status information confirms that the printer is in a logged-in state, the controller prevents the transmission of print data associated with the specified-printer job to the printer. This prevents unauthorized or unintended printing, ensuring that print jobs are only sent when the printer is in an appropriate state for processing. The controller may also handle other printing processes, such as canceling pending jobs or redirecting them to another printer, based on the printer's status. The invention improves print job management by dynamically assessing printer availability and avoiding conflicts or security risks associated with logged-in states. This ensures smoother operation in shared or multi-user printing environments.
5. The printing control apparatus described in claim 1 , wherein: the controller, when the specified-printer job is confidential, displays, on the terminal that sent the specified-printer job, an authentication prompt prompting the user to execute an authentication operation for the printer.
This invention relates to a printing control apparatus designed to enhance security for confidential print jobs in a networked printing environment. The apparatus addresses the problem of unauthorized access to sensitive documents by ensuring that only authenticated users can retrieve confidential print jobs from a printer. The printing control apparatus includes a controller that manages print jobs sent from various terminals to a printer. When a print job is marked as confidential, the controller intercepts the job and prevents it from being printed immediately. Instead, the controller sends an authentication prompt to the terminal that originated the print job, requiring the user to perform an authentication operation before the printer will process the job. This authentication can involve entering a password, using biometric verification, or another secure method. Once authentication is successful, the controller releases the print job to the printer for execution. If authentication fails or is not completed within a set time, the print job may be canceled or held for further security measures. This system ensures that confidential documents remain secure until the authorized user is physically present at the printer, reducing the risk of unauthorized access or accidental printing to the wrong device. The apparatus integrates seamlessly with existing printing infrastructure, requiring minimal additional hardware while providing robust security for sensitive materials.
6. The printing control apparatus described in claim 1 , wherein: the specified-printer job contains user information; and the controller, for the specified-printer job with user information corresponding to the input authentication information, sends the print data based on the specified-printer job to the authenticated printer.
This invention relates to a printing control apparatus designed to enhance security and user-specific print management in networked printing environments. The apparatus addresses the problem of unauthorized access to print jobs and ensures that print data is only sent to a printer authenticated by the user. The system operates by receiving a print job containing user information and authentication data. When a user authenticates with the system, the apparatus verifies the input authentication information against the user information embedded in the print job. If the authentication is successful, the apparatus sends the print data to the authenticated printer, ensuring that only authorized users can retrieve their print jobs. This mechanism prevents unauthorized individuals from accessing sensitive print jobs, improving security in shared or public printing environments. The apparatus may also include features to manage multiple printers and prioritize print jobs based on user authentication status, ensuring efficient and secure print job distribution. The invention is particularly useful in office settings, educational institutions, or any environment where secure and user-specific printing is required.
7. A control method of a printing control apparatus that connects to a terminal and a printer, the control method causing the printing control apparatus to execute : receiving from the terminal a specified-printer job, which is a print job for which the printer is designated as a print destination; determining whether or not the specified-printer job is confidential; if the specified-printer job is determined not confidential, sending print data based on the specified-printer job to a specified printer, which is the printer designated as the print destination in the specified-printer job; and if the specified-printer job is determined confidential, receiving authentication information input to the printer from the printer and executing an authentication process based on the authentication information, and sending the print data to an authenticated printer, which is the printer that sent the authentication information, according to a result of the authentication process, wherein the determining is performed by determining whether or not the specified-printer job is a same-printer job designating the same printer as the authenticated printer as the print destination, if the specified-printer job is not a same-printer iob, the specified-printer job is displayed as a printing candidate on the authenticated printer, and if the displayed specified-printer job is selected for printing, the print data based on the specified-printer job is sent to the authenticated printer, and if the specified-printer job is a same-printer job, the print data based on the same-printer job is sent to the authenticated printer without displaying of the specified-printer iob as a printing candidate on the authenticated printer.
This invention relates to a printing control system that manages print jobs between terminals and printers, addressing security concerns for confidential documents. The system determines whether a print job is confidential and handles it accordingly. For non-confidential jobs, print data is sent directly to the designated printer. For confidential jobs, the system requires authentication at the printer before releasing the print data. The authentication process involves receiving input from the printer and verifying credentials. If the job is not designated for the authenticated printer, it appears as a selectable candidate on the authenticated printer’s interface. Once selected, the print data is sent. If the job is already designated for the authenticated printer, the data is sent automatically without requiring user selection. This approach ensures that confidential documents are only printed after proper authentication, while non-confidential jobs proceed without delay. The system enhances security by preventing unauthorized access to sensitive print jobs while maintaining efficiency for standard printing tasks.
8. A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium storing a program causing a processor of a printing control apparatus that connects to a terminal to execute : receiving from the terminal a specified-printer job, which is a print job for which the printer is designated as a print destination; determining whether or not the specified-printer job is confidential; if the specified-printer job is determined not confidential, sending print data based on the specified-printer job to a specified printer, which is the printer designated as the print destination in the specified-printer job; and if the specified-printer job is determined confidential, receiving, from the printer., authentication information input to the printer from the printer and executing an authentication process based on the authentication information, and sending, the print data to an authenticated printer, which is the printer that sent the authentication information, according to a result of the authentication process, wherein the determining is performed by determining whether or not the specified-printer job is a same-printer job designating the same printer as the authenticated printer as the print destination, if the specified-printer job is not a same-printer job, the specified-printer job is displayed as a printing candidate on the authenticated printer, and if the displayed specified-printer job is selected for printing, the print data based on the specified-printer job is sent to the authenticated printer, and if the specified-printer job is a same-printer job, the print data based on the same-printer job is sent to the authenticated printer without displavinj of the specified-printer job as a printing candidate on the authenticated printer.
This invention relates to a printing control system that enhances security for confidential print jobs in a networked printing environment. The system addresses the problem of unauthorized access to sensitive documents by ensuring that confidential print jobs are only released to a printer after successful user authentication at the printer itself. The system operates by receiving a print job from a terminal, where the job specifies a particular printer as the destination. The system first determines whether the job is confidential. If it is not confidential, the print data is sent directly to the specified printer. For confidential jobs, the system requires the user to authenticate at the printer before the job is released. The printer sends authentication information (e.g., user credentials) back to the printing control apparatus, which verifies the credentials. If authentication succeeds, the print data is sent to the authenticated printer. Additionally, the system checks whether the specified printer in the job matches the authenticated printer. If they do not match, the job is displayed as a selectable option on the authenticated printer. The user must manually select the job for printing. If the printers match, the job is sent directly to the authenticated printer without requiring user selection. This ensures that confidential documents are only printed when the user is physically present at the intended printer.
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May 12, 2020
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